The '''Deanery of New Zealand''' of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand, and All Oceania]] is the way of administering the Antiochian Orthodox parishes, priests and faithful in New Zealand.

The '''Deanery of New Zealand''' of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand, and All Oceania]] is the way of administering the Antiochian Orthodox parishes, priests and faithful in New Zealand.

History

In January 2003, the first New Zealand Clergy Conference of the Antiochian Archdiocese was chaired by Metropolitan Archbishop Paul (Saliba) of Australia and New Zealand. On the Saturday, Dr Ian Nield was ordained to the diaconate and Fr Dcn Michael Elder was ordained to the priesthood; on the Sunday, Fr Dcn Ian Nield was ordained to the priesthood and Fr Victor Didenco, previously canonically released from the Moldovan Orthodox Church, was received into the Antiochian Archdiocese and appointed head of mission in Christchurch.

In July 2003, in response to a growing Antiochian Orthodox presence in New Zealand, Met Abp Paul created the Deanery of New Zealand. At this point, there are six priests in the Deanery.

On March 25, 2005, there was a clergy symposium in New Zealand. On the next day, Max Athanasius Perkins was ordained to the diaconate to serve the Antiochian Mission in Christchurch. On December 4, John Hubbard was ordained to the diaconate to serve at the Antiochian Orthodox Church of St George, Auckland.

In May 2006, after the Sixth Clergy Conference of Australia and New Zealand (Antiochian) in Wollongong, Australia, Met Abp Paul presided over a New Zealand Deanery meeting regarding the future of the Orthodox Church in New Zealand.